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Category Archives for Health

It’s easy to dismiss stress as simply an unavoidable part of our lives. However, if you’re under too much strain, your health and general wellbeing can suffer. You might experience sleeping problems, have difficulty concentrating, feel irritable or anxious and suffer a loss of appetite. You might also be more likely to drink excessively and to act unreasonably. Stress can even trigger headaches, muscle pain and dizziness, and it’s a risk factor for high blood pressure. So, if you’re feeling under too much pressure, now could be the time to take action. Here are three common causes of stress in men, and some simple tips to help you ease the pressure.

Problems in the bedroom

Stress in Men

Let’s face it, most men don’t like to talk about problems in the bedroom. However, sexual difficulties are much more common that you might think. It’s estimated that around one in ten men has a problem related to having sex, and erectile dysfunction is the most prevalent. It affects around 7-8% of men aged between 20 and 40, 11% of those aged 40 to 50 and 40% of the over 60s. There are a range of causes that can trigger this problem, both psychological and physical. There are also a variety of useful erectile dysfunction treatment options on offer. However, because of their reluctance to talk about these difficulties, men often fail to seek help. This can lead to a vicious cycle. Stress and anxiety about sexual problems can itself reduce men’s ability to perform, and the more negative experiences people have in the bedroom, the more anxious they become.

If you’re experiencing sexual difficulties, don’t simply hope they will go away. It’s important to be proactive. Firstly, try to establish the cause of your problems as this will help you to determine the best treatment. You might benefit from taking prescription-only erectile dysfunction medicines like Viagra. If you don’t want to visit your doctor to get these, you can seek a prescription from reputable websites such as onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com. By taking action like this, you stand to lower your stress levels and improve your love life.

Pressure at work

Pressure at work is another major cause of stress among guys. Excessive workloads, a lack of support from managers and bullying are among the most common triggers. There’s no denying the fact that it’s a competitive employment market out there, and you may feel under pressure to accept all the challenges thrown at you by your boss. However, bear in mind that by taking on too much, you may end up doing nothing well. By having the confidence to say ‘no’ sometimes, you can actually make yourself a more effective worker and you can lower your stress levels too.

It’s also important to try to find ways to resolve any problems you have with your managers or colleagues. A more harmonious workplace can do wonders to reduce anxiety.

Money troubles

Last but by no means least, money troubles are an all too common cause of stress. Difficulty balancing the books from month to month can really pile the pressure on guys, and spiralling debt is especially worrying. The threat of redundancy can also be a major concern.

To help limit the anxiety you feel as a result of your finances, try to deal with any problems early on rather than burying your head in the sand and simply hoping they’ll go away. For example, you might benefit from seeking professional advice on how to prioritise your debts.

By following tips like these, you should find it easier to keep your stress levels in check, which is good news for both your body and mind.

Health issues can strike men at any age and stage, but as you get older, you might find that you’re beset by an increasing number of medical problems. By the time you hit midlife, you may have a range of health complications. The important thing is to remember that you’re not alone. As the male body ages, it becomes more susceptible to an array of medical issues. Here are just a few of the more common ones, and some suggestions to help you tackle them.

Erectile dysfunction

Common male health issues

Sexual problems of any kind can be embarrassing to talk about, and it’s easy to feel isolated and ashamed if you develop difficulties in the bedroom. However, these issues may be much more common than you realise. For example, it’s estimated that around half of men aged between 40 and 70 have erectile dysfunction (ED). This refers to the inability to get and maintain an erection.

Physical causes of ED can include a narrowing of the blood vessels to the penis, hormonal changes, surgery or injury. Meanwhile, psychological issues such as relationship problems, anxiety and depression can also result in ED. Fortunately, help is at hand. There are now medicines available that can give firmer and longer-lasting erections. For example, you can head to trusted websites like onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com to request a prescription for Levitra. This works in a similar way to Viagra and Sildenafil, and when taken 30 to 60 minutes before sex, it can remain effective for around four to six hours.

These medicines can help to boost your confidence and they can prove effective at treating anxiety-related ED. However, bear in mind that they will not address any underlying medical causes like high blood pressure or diabetes. If you think your sexual problems have a physical basis, it’s important to seek information and advice from a medical professional.

High blood pressure

In the UK alone, around 16 million people have high blood pressure (hypertension) and once you enter middle age, you are at an increased risk of this. After all, while the cause of most cases of hypertension is unknown, there a number of risk factors – and age is one of them. Other dangers include eating too much salt, not doing enough exercise, being overweight, drinking large amounts of alcohol and smoking.

If your blood pressure readings on separate occasions consistently come out at 140/90mmHg or above, you have hypertension. This is not something to ignore. Bear in mind that, if left untreated, high blood pressure can increase your chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke. In some cases, doctors recommend medication to help bring blood pressure under control. However, lifestyle changes can also lead to an improvement. For example, your doctor may advise you to lose weight, cut back on your salt and caffeine intake, stop smoking, reduce your alcohol consumption, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.

Weight gain

If you’ve noticed that your waistline has started to expand since you entered your midlife, you can rest assured you’re not alone. Unfortunately, it’s harder to stay trim as you get older. Between the ages of 30 and 40, people tend to experience changes in their metabolisms that predispose them to putting on extra weight. Also, lots of people find they do less exercise as they get older, often because they don’t have time to hit the gym or head out for a jog.

However, it’s important to make an effort to stay in shape. Health risks associated with obesity include type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer. To help ensure you stay slim, it’s important to eat a healthy diet and to keep active.

With New Year fast approaching, chances are life has gotten a little messy of late, what with all the excitement and seasonal get-togethers. It is also a time for fresh starts – including your love life. Whether it’s finding a new partner or reinvigorating your long-term relationship, change begins with tidying up your living space and scrubbing up your appearance. After all, a long year takes its toll on all of us, and facing the New Year is easier when you look and feel refreshed. This is the beginning of making an active change.

Looking sharp

Tidying Up Your Life for the New Year

In general, actively seeking to look tidy and clean can affect your entire outlook and give you a positivity to carry you through the New Year. The Christmas break gives us all a little breathing space to make the changes we’d been planning to make all year but never got around to, like booking in a haircut or sprucing up our wardrobes. While none of things will actively make or break a relationship (that’s on you, we’re afraid) it can give you that boost of confidence you’ll need to approach a new interest or take the next step with your current partner.

You might also take some time to rethink your current look and make some changes. For example, 2014 was the year we reached ‘peak beard’ – and 2015 looks to be the year we’ll once again embrace the shaven visage. No one wants to be dismissed for a dodgy beard or told to remove it by a partner, so start the year by getting prepared. A good start for men would be to trim that beard into shape and face the upcoming year with neatened face fuzz, rather than a Mr Twit extravagance – after all you can always download a replacement beard from the Roald Dahl site if you really miss it.

Cleaning house

House Cleaning for the NEW YEAR

Your surroundings will also play an important part on your outlook. A tidy living environment helps you keep a tidy and focused mind – and makes an immense difference to how your partner (or prospective partner) feels about spending time there. Plus, if you’re co-habiting, you probably already know how easy it is to bicker about even little household tasks, so a comprehensive tidying up session can actually do wonders for your relationship. Here are a few tips:

Not naturally house proud? Once you have a little tidying up know-how, it will no longer feel like such a bother to keep your space tidy – don’t hesitate to Google a problem to hunt down a useful life hack here and there.

Also, try to look at your house as if seeing it for the first time. If you’re living alone, it can sometimes be hard to spot the issues that have built up over time and might (potentially) frighten off houseguests. Bad smells from the kitchen, stains in the bathroom, and a home that has hints of belonging to a hoarder are all massive turnoffs.

When tidying up clogged up or overflowing wardrobes, find what you don’t wear anymore and donate these items to charity.

Funds allowing, get rid of those old beaten up pans and cooking equipment and invest in something better – good equipment can improve your cooking, and culinary skills are a good way to impress a love interest.

To deal with stubborn smells, like nicotine, bring in some reed diffusers or another similar product. If you’re dating a vehement non-smoker, the smell won’t do you any favours.

No relationship is based entirely on the state of your home or wardrobe, but by building up an all round strategy for self-improvement, you could start up or continue a relationships with renewed vigour – and face the new year with a lasting positive mind set.

Everyone loves a bit of romance, but it can be expensive to keep going out all the time. More and more, people are finding ways to create that romantic feeling at home instead. From a candlelit meal in the kitchen to a snuggle on the sofa, the home is increasingly becoming the preferred site for a date.

So how can you create a clean, clutter-free space to ensure the focus is entirely on your potential partner? Well, here are some top tips for cleaning your house before Mr or Miss Right comes over.

Make space for candles and flowers by removing unnecessary items from table tops and kitchen counters. If you’re short on time, just put everything in a cupboard for now, but don’t forget to sort it properly later.

Nothing kills romance like a bad smell, so freshen the place up with potpourri or scented oil diffuser sticks. Wrap up anything in the fridge that might make a stink (think onions and cheese) and use fabric freshener on sofas and carpets.

Cleaning Tips for Romantic Night

Make sure you don’t give anyway any guilty secrets: take out your bins and recycle those empty ice-cream cartons so they’re out of sight before your date arrives.

Wash up! If a long-term commitment is on the cards, this person might be judging your environment for indications of what you’d be like to live with. Anything that suggests laziness is a big turn-off. Get plates sparkling clean, or if you’re in a rush, just hide them somewhere he or she won’t look!

Everyone judges people on the cleanliness of their bathroom, so don’t forget to wash your sink, shower and toilet. Use fast-acting bleach and a tough bathroom cleaning spray to make sure everything sparkles.

Focus on the rooms your date will be visiting. If you’re short for time, no need to do a full-house overhaul, just clean up the kitchen, living room and bathroom. You can save the rest for when he or she moves in…

Sweep and vacuum. As boring a chore as it might be, your date won’t be impressed if they step on something painful in the carpet. Do a quick once-over of the important rooms with your vacuum or broom and pick up anything from the floor that could easily get under-foot (upturned plugs are particularly bad for this).

De-spider and de-mice. While you might like the idea of playing the hero and killing the pest for your date, it’s best not to have any distractions from the flirting. If your house has had mice in the past, set down ethical traps – you’ll get brownie points for being nice to animals. Check corners for spiders and use the old glass-and-cardboard trick.

So, by just following a few simple cleaning tips, you’ve made a fitting backdrop for romance and a home ready to welcome your date. Keep up the cleanliness and who knows when those wedding bells will start to ring…

Some people might have experienced wearing contact lenses for more than 12 hours in a day and never dropped a clean solution for dry eyes. The result is having pink eyes or bloodshot eyes the next day. This is called conjunctivitis in scientific terms. It is a commonly occurring irritation that should be treated immediately or else it might get worse. If you are experiencing this and have no time to consult with an eye doctor, here are some home remedies and cleaning tips that can help to remove the pink or red eye.

1. Take Antihistamine

The initial remedy is to go over the counter of any trusted drugstore and ask for an antihistamine. Histamines are the chemicals known for causing pink eye and other allergy symptoms. Our body system naturally reacts to allergens and it produced histamines. By taking an antihistamine, you can reduce the level of histamines and block them completely.

2. Use Decongestant

In contrast with antihistamine, the way a decongestant work is that they control inflammation. It may stop other symptoms from appearing and thereby help prevent eye tissue from getting inflamed. You may use this in a couple of days to clear the symptoms.

3. Clean Your Eyes

Conjunctivitis in Adult

When you take a bath, probably the only part of your body that’s seen in the naked eye must be the eye itself. There’s a different way of cleaning the eye (not by soap and water). It is by wiping the eye starting from the inside corner next to your nose. Make sure you have clean hands to prevent bacteria from festering. Then, pass over your entire eye gently to the outside corner. This is to get rid of the discharge or dirty substance from the tear ducts.

Remember not to touch your eyes with unclean hands as the condition may be worsened and you may be passing on the bacteria to things that other people will touch. Pink eye is contagious and it can infect and spread to people around you or those you often get in contact with. Therefore, it will also be helpful if you do not share handkerchiefs, eye cosmetics, contact lenses and solution with them.

4. Apply Eye Drops

Eye drops are mild saline lubricants that can be put artificial tears because they provide replacement of tears in the eyes. If you are wearing contact lenses in the Philippines, remove them first before applying eye drops. Do not try to wear the lenses again until your eyes are completely healed and back to normal. Applying eye drops is easy and this process can specifically aid in soothing out dryness associated with bloodshot eyes. The same lubricant can wash out the contaminants that complicate or prolong other viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis.

5. Use Cold or Warm Compress

A handy towel with soft texture can be of help this time for a cold or warm compress. You will need a pail of water. Soak the towel in the water and wring out the excess before applying the towel to your closed eyes. If you are experiencing allergic conjunctivitis, ideally you should use a cold compress and gently put pressure. Else, use a warm compress to reduce swelling of viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. As an alternative to water, you may also use tea bags and apply them to your eyes for about half an hour. Chamomile tea is most recommended for further relaxation.

Conclusion:

From time to time, people experience conjunctivitis caused by swollen or dilated blood vessels on the sclera, the white outer surface of the eye. While this may appear as a mild disease, it should not be ignored. There are accompanying pains such as itching, eye discharge, swollen and visual disturbances that come along with it.

If the pain does not go away after a few hours, you can still monitor the progress and stay away from places where there is a lot of people. You can request for a leave of absence from school or the office for the meantime. Conjunctivitis should be cured in about three to five days. If the pink eye does not improve within that duration after you have done these home remedies, it is really time for you to visit the doctor.